Book Review: Dying to Be Famous

Reviewed By: Shirley - RAM

Dying to Be Famous     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
David Hiltbrand
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator
Series: Jim McNamara # 3
Harper

Jim McNamara is lured from his Connecticut home one January morning to fly to sunny Los Angeles, bribed by muffins and very big bucks. Jim is a PI who specializes in the music business, but this is reality TV. Star Maker, in its fifth season, is a show much like Idol, down to the 3 judges. A favorite contestant has been murdered. The police have agreed to help keep it quiet and leave the investigation to McNamara. No mere murder is going to shut down production or delay this program.

As Jim and friend Whitey try to sort things out, a second contestant is dropped from the show due to a nasty police record that someone failed to discover prior to including her in the show. Again the story is kept quiet and Jim wonders if someone is trying to eliminate the competition.

This is a good, entertaining take on reality TV, music biz and LA. With ten contestants, three judges, network bosses, assistants, etc. there are too many characters to keep straight easily. Lots of humor helps make the story good fun.

Shirley - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Shirley - RAM